Toward the Fullness of Christ
LESSON 2
❑
Thursday
April 8
Part 5
"Far above all principality, and power, and might,
GRANDEUR AND and dominion, and every name that is named, not only
MAJESTY OF in this world, but also in that which is to come."
HIS EXALTATION
Eph. 1:21
feared many "powers," good and evil. The stars represented
Every form of power is here intended. The ancient world
to them powers of all kinds. Angelic and demonic powers were
legion to them. For believers, the coming of Christ into the
world banished the fear of all evil powers, for Christ is Lord of
all. Compare Rom. 8:38, 39.
The heathen gods were graded, some greater or more evil
than others. Christ is "above all." Compare "angels, nor prin-
cipalities, nor powers" (Rom. 8:38), "angels and authorities
and powers" (1 Peter 3:22), et cetera.
The worship of angels appeared in some forms of later Ju-
daism, and the Christian leaders warned against this. (Col.
2:16-18. To them, Christ was the Supreme Person in the
universe, sitting at the right hand of God. Ps. 110:1. His name
is above every name and has an influence which cannot be
estimated for greatness. Revelation 5.
"His [Christ's] resurrection is a pledge of the resurrection of
the saints (Rom. 4:25; 1 Cor. 15:20-22), and His exaltation
a pledge of the final exaltation of the saints."—SDA
Bible
Commentary,
on Eph. 1:20.
"The same power that raised Christ from the dead will raise
His church, and glorify it with Him, above all principalities,
above all powers, above every name that is named, not only
in this world, but also in the world to
come."—The Desire of
Ages,
page 787.
How is the power of Christ compared to the other
powers in the universe? Compare Heb. 1:2, 3.
THINK IT THROUGH
The power of God is implied in the very name of
Jesus: Matt. 12:21; John 14:13; Phil. 2:9-11.
"The disciples were to carry their
work forward in Christ's name. Their
every word and act was to fasten at-
tention on His name, as possessing that
vital power by which sinners may be
saved. Their faith was to center in Him
who is the source of mercy and power.
In His name they were to present their
petitions to the Father, and they would
receive answer. They were to baptize
18
in the name of the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Spirit. Christ's name was to
be their watchword, their badge of dis-
tinction, their bond of union, the au-
thority for their course of action, and
the source of their success. Nothing was
to be recognized in His kingdom that
did not bear His name and superscrip-
tion."—"The Acts of the Apostles," page
28.